A burglar was captured by a have-a-go hero as he tried to rifle a Bradford pub early today.

George Brankin, 51, leapt into action after he was woken by the intruder smashing his way into the Peel Park pub in Otley Road shortly before 7am.

Dressed in only his underpants and brandishing a shovel for protection, Mr Brankin found the suspect breaking into a gaming machine.

And, despite being told by the burglar that he had a gun and being attacked with a hammer, he managed to overpower him until police arrived.

"It was pitch black and I knew someone was there." said Mr Brankin, of Manningham, who was minding the pub for his niece Julie Ryan who is the licensee.

"I said 'stop, the police are on their way' and he said 'don't move I have a gun'.

"I put the lights on and I saw him trying to get money out of the machine.

"He came running towards me and he took a swipe at my head with a hammer.

"I had to drop the phone I was carrying to protect myself. He hit me on my arm, my leg and the back of my head.

"We ended up fighting and I managed to get the hammer off him. I got him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him upstairs.

"I don't know how long it took the police to arrive but it seemed like forever. They arrested him and took him away."

A West Yorkshire police spokesman confirmed officers had been called to a report of a break-in at the Peel Park pub and that a man had been detained at the scene and arrested by officers on arrival.

Inquiries were continuing today.